[size]One of today’s winners — other than obfuscation, which is at an all-time high — is Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon.As a result of the league’s new substance abuse policy, Gordon’s year-long suspension for an amount of marijuana which wouldn’t have triggered a positive test the new guidelines has been shortened to 10 games.“I’m happy that the NFLPA and NFL worked hard to agree on a new Substances of Abuse policy,” Gordon said in a statement distributed by the union. “I’m very thankful to my union for fighting for a significant reduction in my suspension. I’m glad I can go to the facility during my suspension. I look forward to going to meetings, working out individually, and learning from my coaches and teammates. I cant wait until game 11 to get back on the field!”Getting back to the facility might be the biggest part of the news, as it provides Gordon the structure he clearly needs.[/size]

[size]Not only did Dion Jordan not get his suspension shortened, it went the other direction.According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins announced that the second-year outside linebacker has been suspended again.His previous four-game suspension for violating the PED policy was lifted after two games, but was then superseded by a new four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.He will be eligible to return Oct. 20, the day after they play the Bears.“I am currently undergoing treatment to address my situation,” Jordan said in a statement provided by the team. “I am working hard to become a better man and to make better choices in the future. I am especially looking forward to returning to the team. I also want to thank my family, Coach [Joe] Philbin and the Miami Dolphins organization for their support.”The short version is he’ll miss six games this year, instead of four, and is looking more and more like a failed use of the third overall choice in the 2013 NFL Draft.[/size]

Sideline mess shows Rex Ryan isn't in control of Jets[/size]In the NFL, where teams get just 16 regular-season games to get it right, there are 0-2 starts and there are oh-boy-and-2 starts.Two games into the NFL seasons provide a pressure point for teams that have lost their first two, because there are just 14 remaining games to make up for the early hole.There, too, is the daunting statistical evidence that is enough to make 0-2 teams shudder. Since the 1990 NFL merger when the playoff field was expanded to 12 teams, just 23 of 198 teams that started 0-2 qualified for the playoffs — 11.6 percent. Since 2007, just four of 59 teams who started 0-2 made the playoffs.The good news is, the 2007 Giants were one of those teams, and they went on to win the Super Bowl. The bad news is, the odds of that happening are about as good as winning a Pick-6 Lottery.Adding to the pressure of Week 3 for the 0-2 teams is the fact that teams that start 0-3 have a 2-percent chance of making it to the playoffs and 0-4 drops that chance to 1 percent.So, for the seven NFL teams that lost their first two games — the Giants, Colts, Jaguars, Saints, Chiefs, Raiders and Buccaneers, who were obliterated by the Falcons on Thursday night to fall to 0-3 — Week 3 is an early must-win week.Leaving the Buccaneers out, here is a look at each of the 0-2 teams, their prospects for turning it around, and The Post’s prediction on how they will finish:

Colts

Modal TriggerAndrew Luck[size=11]Photo: Getty ImagesCause for concern: The pass rush, with DE Robert Mathis out for the season, is nonexistent. And QB Andrew Luck, who threw just nine INTs last season, already has three this year and has made some questionable decisions. Luck, too, is taking too many hits.Reason to be cheerful: The Colts play in the weakest division in the NFL, the AFC South, and based on opponents’ 2013 winning percentages, they’re playing the league’s easiest schedule in 2014 (just two 2013 playoff teams, the Bengals and Patriots, remain), and they have Luck, who remains one of the elite QBs in the league despite his spotty start.Prediction: The Colts will rebound strongest of the 0-2s, finish 11-5 and win the division.

Saints

Modal TriggerDrew BreesPhoto: Getty ImagesCause for concern: There is viable competition in the NFC South, with the Panthers (2-0) and Falcons (2-1), so the Saints have some catching up to do. Having already suffered one division loss, to Atlanta, the Saints’ remaining schedule, too, is pretty stout with games against the 49ers, Packers, Bears, Steelers and Ravens as well as the two against Carolina.Reason to be cheerful: The Saints have lost their first two games by a combined five points, and both have been on the road, so it not as if they have fallen off a cliff. They, too, have immense talent, beginning with QB Drew Brees, who is one of the best in the league.Prediction: The Saints are too good not to rebound. Before it’s over, they again will battle the Panthers for the division title and finish 10-6 this year, second to Carolina in the division and be one of the wild-card playoff teams.

Chiefs

Modal TriggerJamaal CharlesPhoto: APCause for concern: Since their 9-0 start to 2013, the Chiefs have lost eight of 10 games, including their blown-lead wild-card loss to the Colts. There are injuries mounting, including to their best player, RB Jamaal Charles (high ankle sprain). The schedule is of no help, either, with remaining dates with San Francisco, Seattle as well as New England.Reason to be cheerful: The Chiefs were competitive against the favored Broncos last week despite being injury-depleted. Andy Reid is a solid head coach who three times in Philadelphia dealt with 0-2 starts. His 2003 Eagles rallied from 0-2 to finish 12-4 and get to the NFC title game.Prediction: The Chiefs are the third-best team in their own division behind Denver and San Diego. They’re looking at a 9-7 finish that will leave them out of the playoffs and wondering where that 9-0 start in 2013 went.

Giants

Modal TriggerEli Manning, Ben McAdooPhoto: Getty ImagesCause for concern: Eli Manning and the offense still look unsure in the new Ben McAdoo system, though they looked better last week. The running game remains an uncertainty, as does the revamped offensive line. Injuries to the receiving corps are becoming an issue. Defensively, the Giants are struggling to generate a big pass rush.Reason to be cheerful: The NFC East, other than the Eagles, is one of weakest in the league, so the Giants have a fighting chance to get this right. Nine wins could win the division.Prediction: They will play just well enough to stay relevant in the division race into December, but will fall short, finish 8-8 and out of the playoffs.

Raiders

Modal TriggerDerek CarrPhoto: Getty ImagesCause for concern: There already is a coaching watch in Oakland, where owner Mark Davis, before the season, called this a “no excuses” year for the team and coach Dennis Allen, who is 8-26. “We suck, that’s as blunt as I can put it,” Raiders safety Charles Woodson said after last week’s 30-14 loss to Tennessee. Next up for Oakland is a game in New England, where they have lost 14 in a row.Reason to be cheerful: The development of rookie QB Derek Carr might be about it. Carr is the Raiders’ leading rusher (57 yards), which is not a good thing.Prediction: The Raiders are careening toward a 4-12 finish and yet another overhaul of the coaching staff.

Jaguars

Modal TriggerBlake BortlesPhoto: Getty ImagesCause for concern: Since they took a 17-0 first-half lead on opening day in Philadelphia, the Jaguars have allowed 75 points in the last six quarters. Last week in Washington, they had as many punts (eight) as first downs.Reason to be cheerful: Let the Blake Bortles era begin. As soon as possible. Though he might stand no chance behind what might be the worst offensive line in the NFL.Prediction: At this point, 3-13 looks like a victory for the Jets _ along with a chance at the No. 1 overall pick in 2015.[/size]

Chargers at Bill and Raiders at Pats at 1pm, rooting for road upsets. Talking about road upsets, not sure KC can win in Miami with a banged up Charles, but rooting for an upset for that road team too. Should be interesting!?!?

Saw the best graphic ever by CBS, financial partner of the New England Patriots. Raiders' second drive, get 9 1/2 yards on first, are about half a yard shy of the first, and CBS has it as second and two. They have the blue LOS line less than half a yard from their yellow first down line, and they still call it second and two.

I wish I had a screenshot of it, it was so blatant.

About as blatant as the officials having a conference on a PI call on Revis, only to throw an illegal substitution flag on the Raiders from the conference. It was as if they were looking for a reason to negate the Revis call. But they would never do that.

Brady has 3 completions for 0 yards after 1. Guess all those pre snap reads that makes him better than Geno that prevents him from throwing those INTs like Geno did last week isn't helping him out much. 3-0 Raiders after 1. Pats will win, but Brady is at the end, fellas.

[size]In a performance highlighted by three TD passes from quarterback Alex Smith and 132 yards rushing from Knile Davis, the Chiefs pulled away for a 34-15 victory on Sunday afternoon in Miami.Two of Smith’s TD passes went to running back Joe McKnight, who had never scored a regular season offensive touchdown before Sunday. But McKnight, the former celebrated USC recruit and Jets tailback, was a key cog in the Chiefs’ victory, catching six passes for 64 yards, including a four-yard score that extended the Kansas City lead to 27-15 with 4:35 left.From there, the Chiefs’ defense closed it out, forcing a pair of fourth-down stops. The final points came on tailback Cyrus Gray’s six-yard TD score with 13 seconds left and the outcome no longer in doubt.Davis, who filled in for the injured Jamaal Charles, handled a heavy workload well, carrying 32 times. He did fumble twice, losing one, though it didn’t cost Kansas City any points.Smith, meanwhile, was tough and sharp, completing 19-of-25 passes for 186 yards. He was sacked five times, including once on a safety, and the Chiefs’ ability to protect him over the course of the season is something to watch.But on Sunday, Smith came up big for his team, which notched its first win of the season.The Dolphins, on the other hand, have now lost two games in a row after a Week One win vs. New England. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill was just 21-of-43 passing for 205 yards and a touchdown on Sunday, and he was sacked four times. The Miami defense has had better days, too; the Chiefs converted 9-of-16 third downs in victory.The loss drops the Dolphins one game behind the Patriots and Bills in the AFC East. Miami (1-2) plays Oakland (0-3) in London next Sunday. The Chiefs will host the Pats on Monday night.[/size]

I still think the Pats have to be favored. But there is still this presumption of them being automatic, engraved division champs already. Anyone who has seen them play these first three weeks can't have anywhere near that same level of confidence.

SackExchange wrote:I still think the Pats have to be favored. But there is still this presumption of them being automatic, engraved division champs already. Anyone who has seen them play these first three weeks can't have anywhere near that same level of confidence.

...but no one dares pick against them until they see them not winning the division every year. Yes, they slipped up vs Miami, but currently sit on top of the division even after looking average so far.

I don't know if you agree or not, but I feel the nation just believes in the Pats situation (Bill and Brady) more than the Bills, Phins, and Jets until one of those teams prove otherwise; and even now, Jets, Phins, and Bills had chances to prove doubters wrong...and our timeout, Tannehill now under 60% completion...and the Bills yesterday at home looking like that (Miami was at home too)? I wouldn't say someone has jumped out and put a stake in a ground and proved they're going to challenge the crown. if the Jets wanted to make that statement, they wouldn't have blown that game last week against an 8-8 or worse caliber team. We haven't made anyone believers yet, IMO. Tonight could be a statement game, but seeing is believing.